News & Updates
Great Lakes Towing Launches Caribbean Breakbulk Service
The Great Lakes Towing Company (GLT), a leader in specialized marine services, including harbor towing, ice breaking, emergency response, vessel repair and construction, and machine shop services, is launching a Jones Act compliant Breakbulk service from Fernandina Beach, FL to San Juan Puerto Rico.
GLT purchased the 5,800 M/T cargo deadweight capacity, fully enclosed warehouse barge “Crimson Clover” from Crimson Shipping and has created a new operating company named Great Lakes East, LLC.
Great Lakes East, LLC (GLE) will operate a Domestic and International marine transportation service that will effectively reactivate Crimson Shipping’s former business, based out of Mobile, AL. However, GLE will load out of the Port of Fernandina Beach, FL.
GLE is a US Flag, Jones Act compliant, ocean freight carrier which specializes in break-bulk commodities such as paper, lumber, steel, and other breakbulk products with RORO cargo capabilities facilitated by the barge self-loading/unloading side ramp configuration. The Caribbean Breakbulk Service has a regular service to San Juan, PR, and on inducement will call neighboring islands and other ports in the Central Caribbean basin.
“Shippers in the domestic trade expressed the need for a breakbulk conveyance alternative to move forest and steel products in the Puerto Rico trade and we responded with a proven solution” said Joe Starck, President of The Great Lakes Towing Company. GLE’s maiden voyage is scheduled to depart Fernandina Beach on July 3, 2024. GLE is actively taking orders and receiving cargo at Fernandina.
GLE has partnered with best-in-class terminal operators in the Port of Fernandina and San Juan to receive, load, discharge, and store weather-sensitive cargo in on-dock warehouses. GLE is excited to offer a service that can leverage last mile on-dock rail in Fernandina and a strategic, niche loading port that is easily accessible from the main highways in Northeast Florida.